Open Enrollment Retirees

Buffalo City School District Open Enrollment 

Buffalo City School District (BCSD) Open enrollment is an important period each year, in the context of health insurance, when eligible retirees can make changes to their insurance plans or enroll in new ones.  

What is Open Enrollment? 

Open enrollment is a designated period during which retirees may be able to:  

  • Make changes to their existing health plan 

  • Switch plans if they find a better option 

  • Add or remove dependents from their coverage (note: if you retired with a single plan, you cannot add dependents) 

This period occurs annually November 1st - 30th and the effective date of change is January 1st. Do not confuse BCSD Open enrollment with Medicare or NYS Marketplace Open enrollment.  

How to Prepare for Open Enrollment 

To make the most of the open enrollment period, consider the following steps: 

  • You can join webinars to learn more about available plans. Highmark BC/BS WNY - Thursday November 13th 9AM - Join the meeting now -

    Meeting ID: 276 359 618 746 99 -

    Passcode: 9YS9fn7y

  • Independent Health Passport Medicare Advantage Plan- Tuesday November 18th at 1pm - Join the meeting now -

    Meeting ID: 246 624 842 671 3 -

    Passcode: gJ6DM6QQ OR Friday November 21st at 10am - Join the meeting now -

    Meeting ID: 275 178 592 207 1 -

    Passcode: MV9pT278

  • Review Current Coverage: Assess your current plan to determine if it still meets your needs. Consider factors like deductibles and coverage limits. 

  • Compare Plans: Look at different plans available to you. Compare them based on cost, coverage, and network of healthcare providers. Not every plan will be available to each retiree. 

  • Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to reach out to your insurance provider for clarification on benefits or specific plan details: Highmark BC/BS WNY 1-888-299-2263, Independent Health Passport Medicare Advantage Plan 1-877-893-6387. When you call, identify yourself as a BCSD retiree and have your insurance card handy. 

  • Email benefits@buffaloschools.org should you have questions or concerns.  

  1. What plans am I eligible for or can change to? 

  • If you are currently enrolled in a plan which is mandatory under the collective bargaining agreement you retired, you cannot transfer plans and are ineligible to participate in open enrollment (see below) 

Bargaining Unit

Date of Retirement

L264 Cook Managers

7/1/2014 - Present

Highmark's Forever Blue Mandatory upon Medicare eligibility

L265 Service Center

7/11/2012 - Present

Highmark's Forever Blue Mandatory upon Medicare eligibility

L409

11/08/2022 - Present

Medicare Advantage plan Mandatory upon Medicare eligibility (currently Independent Health's Passport plan)

BCSA

11/01/2017 - Present

Highmark's Forever Blue Mandatory upon Medicare eligibility

BEST

07/01/2021 - Present

Medicare Advantage plan Mandatory upon Medicare eligibility (currently Independent Health's Passport plan)

PCTEA

07/01/2012 - Present

Highmark's Forever Blue Mandatory upon Medicare eligibility

Exempt

All

Check your individual contract specifications

  • If you are not enrolled in a plan which is mandatory under the collective bargaining agreement you retired, you can view eligible plans by clicking on the following link, scrolling to ‘RETIREE’ and following the prompts for bargaining unit and date of retirement. From here you will be able to view the summary of benefits and coverage for each eligible plan. https://www.buffaloschools.org/o/dept-benefits/page/summary-of-benefits 

  • If you have questions about these plans, please contact Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield WNY at 888-299-2263. Highmark has a team of customer service staff who can answer your questions. 

  • You may also consider enrolling in Independent Health’s Passport Medicare Advantage plan. To view highlights of this plan, please follow this link: https://www.buffaloschools.org/o/dept-benefits/page/independent-health-passport-ppo 

     

  • If you have questions about Independent Health’s Passport Medicare Advantage plan, call 716-250-4401 or 1-800-665-1502. Independent Health has a team of customer service staff who can answer your questions. 

Important: 

  • CVS is not a participating pharmacy under the Passport plan 

  • BBOE enrollees in the Passport plan are NOT affected by the issues facing Independent Health/Roswell Park. Because the plan offered by the BBOE is a group plan, our retirees who select this plan may continue to seek treatment at Roswell Park. 

 

  1. If I change plans will my annual contribution change? 

  • No, your annual contribution will not change unless you are a BCSA member who retired between 1/1/96-12/31/98.  

  1. Can I add my spouse to my existing plan? 

  • If you retired with a family plan, you can add your spouse to your existing plan. If you retired with a single plan, you are unable to add your spouse or any dependent to your existing plan. 

  • If you change from a single to family plan, your annual contribution will be adjusted accordingly. 

  1. How do I apply to change plans? 

 Deadline for Open Enrollment: November 30th. There are NO EXCEPTIONS.  Applications received after this date will be returned and not processed.